Los Angeles daily herald., 1887-02-18

An esteemed evening contemporary
points out with apparent satisfaction
that q certain considerable number
Of the preachers in the country are
coming out in favor of Henry
Georges land theories. The journal
in question leans positively in
the direction Of Georges doctrines.
The presumption is, therefore. that
our neighbor regards this as an en-
dorsement OF the radical philosophers
peculiar views worthy of more than
passing notice. Does it mean that
the advocacy of the preachers will
tend to disseminate these principles? ?
If SO it will not be among thinking
people, nor among those best quail
fed to deal with economic theories.
This is said with all due respect for
the preachers, and with respect
that is real and sincere. But Of all
men the clergy, as a broad rule, are
the least qualified in the land to
grasp or teach principles that
relate to temporalities. This is
quite natural. The professional
education, the side on which
they touch the world all the days
they live, their studies, meditations
and occupations all lead them as far
as heaven from earth from a thorough
understanding or clear conception of
the material interests of everyday
life. The lack of capacity for such
mental work and the mess the aver
age theologian makes of any attemp!
at it are proverbial. The faithful and
earnest clergyman cannot be politi-
cal economist, and those successful
in their own calling usually leave
such studies alone. This is so well
understood by men of general knowl-
edge of affairs who have mingled in
the world and touched it at many
points that business men, financiers,
leaders in material enterprises will be
little influenced by what their pastors
have to say about Henry Georges
theories, or any other principle OF
political economy. However much
disposed they may be to hear the voice
OF the preacher when he expounds the
doctrines of his creed, they will
not regard with favor his expo
sition of worldly affairs. In
deed they will be more or less likely
to lose confidence and respect for the
preacher who gets down into the
affairs of the world. No, if the
preachers, who take their texts from
Henry Georges gospel, influence any
of their hearers, it will be such as are as
inexperienced-not to say ignorant
as their instruct RS in the principles
that underlie material interests. 1t
will be the class that has never
handled money in large amounts, who
have not owned, titled nor reaped
lands, who have not paid taxes. 1t
will the class that does not build, nor
own houses, nor business blocks. 1t
will be the part of the community
who know nothing about finances,
about material industries, or the
great enterprises which carry forward
the progress of the world in its up
ward march. And, by the way, none
of the classes described aoove-and
no individual in these classes--is yet
known to have taken any stock in
Georges theories. His disciples seem
to be the men who live from hand to
mouth, who eat to-day what they ex-
pect to earn tomorrow, and never
save dollar for rainy day. Nor is
this said with any suspicion of
lack of sympathy for even the spend
thrift. The sole thought here in
mind in mentioning him and his
rack-rent policy, is to set up the
claim that he is disqualified in all
mental elements to sit in judgment on
matters he knows nothing about.